ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Railways
NRTI should do research on initiatives of Railways under taken in last 7 years like Bio Toilets, Rail Electrification, Infra upgradation etc.- Shri Piyush Goyal
All training institutes under Railways should come under one Management roof of NRTI- Shri Goyal
With in 3 years, NRTI has emerged as a pioneer institution of learning and all efforts should be made to enrich it's academic infrastructure- Shri Piyush Goyal
Shri Piyush Goyal Minister for Railways and Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution reviews the progress of National Rail & Transportation Institute
"NRTI should now do research on initiatives of Railways under taken in last 7 years like Bio Toilets, Rail Electrification,Infra upgradationetc" said Shri Piyush Goyal Minister for Railways and Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution while reviewing the progress of National Rail and Transportation Institute.
The Minister said that all training institutes under Railways should come under one Management roof of NRTI.This would not only improve the quality of academic inputs but would also bring uniformity in training standards, reduce costs and optimise resource utilization. The Minister said with in short span of 3 years,NRTI has emerged as a pioneer institution of learning and all efforts should be made to enrich it's academic infrastructure.
It may be noted that NRTI is on road to become a world-class institution of advanced study to develop new talent through focus on higher education, cutting edge research in rail & transportation technology and management. NRTI aims to develop interdisciplinary Centres of Excellence which would be collaborative constructs to promote research and education to the transportation sector. NRTI’s strategy is focussed upon sourcing the best expertise from around the world from leading global institutions through institutional partnerships for collaborating on developing curriculum, research projects and executive education programs. NRTI is running cutting edge graduate and masters program in all aspects of logistics, transportation and management.
NRTI is also helping in professional development for the existing talent in railways and transportation sector.
Ministry of Science & Technology
CSIR-CMERI Conducts Skill Development Programme on Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management for Zero Waste Solutions
Institute Designs Mechanized Segregation of Municipal Solid Waste and Disposes Bio-degradable Wastes
Kolkata, March 18, 2021
CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur conducted a three-day residential training programme on "Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management: Zero Waste Solutions" from March 16, 2020 till date where 25 participants including students and officials from Urban Water Supply & Sanitation Services Advisory Network , Bihar participated.
In the concluding session Prof.  Harish Hirani, Director, CSIR-CMERI stated that the people in our society more rely on the imported technologies rather than the indigenously developed ones. He added, CSIR-CMERI is working hard to develop the indigenous technologies. The Institute is also giving its efforts for the awareness of these technologies amongst the masses through skill development programmes and improving the knowledge.
Prof. Hirani also remarked that our country produces huge quantities of waste annually which occupies a large volume of limited land, and contributes to severe contamination and environmental pollution. With the gradual growth of the population the problem is getting worse. To tackle the situation scientifically, the Institute has designed & developed a unique technology for integrated Municipal Solid Waste management. The developed system includes mechanized segregation of municipal solid waste, practicing the contactless operation and disposal of every type of bio-degradable waste including garden waste and non-biodegradable polymer waste. The daily waste generated from the residential campus is being processed in an environment friendly way to achieve a ZERO landfill residential campus. This kind of decentralized municipal solid waste disposal system is very useful in breaking the chain to prevent the pathogens including spread of Covid-19 virus through solid waste management route. Moreover, the developed system is easy to operate and maintain and self-sustainable in terms of operational energy requirement. CSIR-CMERI will always be supporting the MSMEs in every manner possible.
The participating students expressed their sincere gratitude to the institute for organizing such a program, as there is a huge vacuum in this domain. The students were amazed to see the functioning of CSIR-CMERI Integrated Waste Management processes system on ground. They also shared that there is a huge potential for job & business opportunity in the sector due to shortage of skilled manpower in the waste management. They also requested for such skilling initiatives on a more frequent basis.
Prof. Hirani also handed over the certificates to the students participating in the said skill development programme and assured of cooperation from CSIR-CMERI.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Scaling up of COVID testing centres  in National research laboratories and Universities
To scale up testing and enhance the reach across the countryCity /Regional clusters have been established in a Hub and Spoke Model to scale-up testing of COVID-19 samples in government institutions across the country. Institutes and Laboratories which have the capacity and expertise for both sample collection, handling/processing  and testing  serve as the hubs and they involve a number of laboratories which have RT PCR machines and the requisite manpower as their extended Testing facilities.
The Hubs are Government laboratories approved by respective Ministries /Departments  as per ICMR guidelines. So far 19 City /Regional clusters have been established in Bangalore, Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Chandigarh/Mohali, Bhubaneshwar, Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chennai, Kolkata, North Eastern Region, Jammu & Kashmir, Ahmedabad, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Banaras, Palampur and Delhi city.
About 100 institutions have been involved and over 1,60,000 samples tested. Seven DBT Autonomous institutes have been approved as hubs by ICMR and they are performing testing for diagnosis of COVID-19 .
They are also functioning as hubs in the respective Cities/Regions and coordinating the efforts with a number of other premier Central and State Government institutions. In addition, they are working closely with the respective State Governments in obtaining samples for testing and are reporting every day to ICMR on their testing results. Collectively in about 4 weeks, these clusters have done nearly 1,70,000 tests. These clusters will now be scaled to nearly 50 in next 4 weeks and reach remote corners of the country.
Prime Minister's Office
PM pays homage to Shri Balasaheb Thackeray on his Jayanti
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to Shri Balasaheb Thackeray on his Jayanti.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"I pay homage to Shri Balasaheb Thackeray on his Jayanti. He will be remembered forever as an outstanding leader who always stood with the people."
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Taxpayers, beware of fake messages about fast track GST refund
The income-tax department and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs  have warned taxpayers not to succumb to the temptation of getting faster refunds by clicking on any fake links.
It has been ascertained that the message reading “Dear Taxpayers, Due to Covid-19 outbreak, Central Government has started online processing of GST Refund. Click below to claim your refund http://Onlinefilingindia.in.”
Tax payers are advised not click on the link as these are phishing messages not sent by CBIC or Infosys arm handling GST. The correct website to visit is www.gst.gov.in
The income-tax department has also tweeted similarly, suggesting that they are not sending any mails for tax refunds and seeking personal information from taxpayers including their KYC details on mail.
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Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Government to bear full cost of six-member Indian judo team’s visit to Hungary for IJF Grand Slam 2020 competition
Five players from the Indian Judo Team will be participating in the Grand Slam 2020 competition – an International Judo Federation  event – happening in Budapest, Hungary this month from 23rd to 26th. The full cost of the trip shall be borne by the Government.
The five judokas, consisting of two women and three men players, will leave for the competition on 19th. They will have to produce at least two Covid-19 negative individual medical certificates  upon arrival at Hungary.
The women’s team includes 25-year-old Sushila Devi  from Manipur and 22-year-old Tulika Mann  of Delhi. The men’s team comprises of former Olympian and 28-year-old Avtar Singh , 22-year-old TOPS developmental group athlete Jasleen Singh Saini  from Punjab and and 24-year-old Vijay Yadav . The five players will be accompanied by coach Jiwan Sharma for the length of the competition in Hungary.
“My aim is to get a medal for India in the Olympics and I’m very confident to get this done because I have done a lot of hard work for this. I am also very thankful to the government for their support. Even if there is hard work from our side but no government support, we can do nothing. So, I am very thankful they are bearing the expenses for our trip,” mentioned Jasleen.
They are all selected on the basis of the world ranking and have high chances of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics games postponed to next year. They are also the best competitors in the Senior National Ranking Championships. Among the women, Sushila Devi is ranked the highest at 41 and has a total of 833 Olympic qualification points, while Jasleen is ranked the highest at 56 among the men and has 854 Olympic qualification points.
Around 645 competitors from across 81 countries are slated to participate in the IJF event in Budapest, Hungary.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves setting up of the 15thFinance Commission
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of the 15thFinance Commission. Under Article 280  of the Constitution,it is a Constitutional obligation. The Terms of Reference for the 15thFinance Commission will be notified in due course of time.
Background:
Article 280 of the Constitution lays down that a Finance Commission  should be constituted "...within two years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of every fifth year or at such earlier time as the President considers necessary...".In keeping with this requirement, the practice has generally been to set up next Finance Commission within five years of the date of setting up of the previous Finance Commission.
Fourteen Finance Commissions have been constituted in the past. The 14thFinance Commission was set up on 02.01.2013 to make recommendations covering the period of five years commencing on 1st April, 2015. The Commission submitted its Report on 15th December, 2014. The recommendations of the 14thFinance Commission are valid upto the financial year 2019-20. In terms of Constitutional provisions, setting up the 15thFinance Commission, the recommendations of which will cover the five years commencing on April 1, 2020, has now become due.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
State Wise Details of EPF Pensioners
The details of number of pensioners under Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 across the country, State/UT-wise during June, 2019 along with pension amount paid are given below:
|
|
STATE/UT-WISE PENSIONERS AND PAYMENT 
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
State
|
|
Total pensioners in June, 2019
|
|
Total payment in June, 2019 
|
|
1
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
273523
|
|
341397545
|
|
2
|
|
Andaman Nicobar Islands
|
|
3433
|
|
3683382
|
|
3
|
|
Assam
|
|
50859
|
|
67515952
|
|
4
|
|
Bihar
|
|
192539
|
|
190029916
|
|
5
|
|
Chandigarh
|
|
42010
|
|
65182681
|
|
6
|
|
Chhattisgarh
|
|
87771
|
|
109053926
|
|
7
|
|
Delhi
|
|
138693
|
|
193129169
|
|
8
|
|
Goa
|
|
24792
|
|
30708043
|
|
9
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
394413
|
|
490424914
|
|
10
|
|
Haryana
|
|
142723
|
|
175150931
|
|
11
|
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
|
34027
|
|
45374945
|
|
12
|
|
Jharkhand
|
|
150214
|
|
176688091
|
|
13
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
536419
|
|
591384323
|
|
14
|
|
Kerala
|
|
404103
|
|
495568521
|
|
15
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
212727
|
|
229732712
|
|
16
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
1102677
|
|
1394750473
|
|
17
|
|
Meghalaya 
|
|
4508
|
|
5896245
|
|
18
|
|
Odisha
|
|
162438
|
|
190760112
|
|
19
|
|
Puducherry
|
|
16303
|
|
22164845
|
|
20
|
|
Punjab
|
|
106998
|
|
138866330
|
|
21
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
164182
|
|
189834014
|
|
22
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
737431
|
|
806152734
|
|
23
|
|
Telangana
|
|
362764
|
|
378973626
|
|
24
|
|
Tripura 
|
|
7777
|
|
9637828
|
|
25
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
509220
|
|
534333295
|
|
26
|
|
Uttarakhand
|
|
58902
|
|
74045668
|
|
27
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
572477
|
|
647393537
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
64,93,923
|
|
759,78,33,758
The important measures taken by Government to make payment of pension to EPF pensioners in a hassle-free environment are as follows:
- The payment of pension is released electronically directly to pensioner’s Bank Accounts.
- The pensioners can submit life certificate online through Jeevan Pramaan/Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance  App.
This information was given by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State  for Labour and Employment in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 extended for 6 months till September 2021
The Union Commerce and Industry Ministry today announced extension of the Foreign Trade Policy  of Government of India. The present Policy which came into force on 1st April 2015, was for 5 years and was extended thereafter upto 31st March, 2021. In view of the unprecedented situation arising out of the pandemic Novel COVID-19, which is persisting, the Government has decided to continue benefits under various export promotion schemes by extending existing Foreign Trade Policy by another six months i.e. up to 30th September, 2021 which will provide continuity in the policy regime. Similar extension is made in the related procedures, by extending validity of HandBook of Procedures.
Exemption from payment of IGST and Compensation Cess on the imports made under Advance/EPCG Authorisations and by EOUs etc. has also been extended up to 30.09.2021. Similarly, validity period of the Status Holder Certificates is also extended. This will enable the Status Holders to continue to avail the specified facilities/benefits.
A notification for extending the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 and a Public Notice for extending the validity of the existing Handbook of Procedures 2015-20 has been issued today.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
No pendency of Oxygen Concentrators with Indian Customs
3000 Oxygen Concentrators received in the Country as International Relief Aid; All delivered/dispatched
Customs authorities working 24×7 to fast track consignments of Oxygen concentrators
It has been reported in some sections of the media that oxygen concentrators are pending at the Customs warehouse for getting clearance from the Custom authorities.
The news is totally incorrect, not based on facts and without any basis.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs  has clarified that there is no such pendency with Indian Customs. The Indian Customs is swiftly clearing all consignments & no such figures of pendency exist across any port of import.
In all, 3000 oxygen concentrators have been received from various countries as global aid to support efforts of Government of India and the States and UTs in their collective fight against the global pandemic. Of these Mauritius has sent 200 oxygen concentrators, Russia , UK has sent in four consignments , 80 from Romania, 700 from Ireland, Thailand , China  and Uzbekistan . In addition, Taiwan has sent 150. The oxygen concentrators are either delivered to the identified tertiary care institutions, or been dispatched for delivery. The relief material has been dispatched through road and air too. There are no oxygen contractors lying in the warehouse of the Customs Department, it is clarified.
The Indian Customs is sensitive to the need for availability of COVID related imports including Oxygen & Oxygen related equipment etc., and are working 24 x 7 to fast track and clear the goods on arrival and lead to expeditious clearance within hours. The Goods are given high Priority for clearance by the Customs Systems for processing over other goods. While the Nodal Officers get alerts on email for monitoring and clearance, monitoring by senior officers for pendency of COVID related imports is also being undertaken.
Recently the matter regarding a consignment of 3,000 Oxygen Concentrators lying with Customs Authorities came up in the Delhi High Court and the same was clarified by the Government Counsel that presently no such consignment is pending with Custom Authorities.
The Ministry of finance also clarified the matter through an official release on 3rd May in response to flooding of social media with the news that 3,000 Oxygen Concentrators are lying with Customs. The Ministry stated, "We have again checked with our field formations and there is no such consignment lying with the Customs. However, since a photograph has also been put on twitter, if anybody has information as to where it is lying, the same may be informed to us and we will take immediate action."
Ministry of Science & Technology
Technologists and Scientists are the Architects of Modi's new India, says Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh
Dr. Singh visits Central Electronics Limited 
- Field Trial of Broken Rail Detection System  with DMRC satisfactory
- Production of Automatic Weather Observation System for Airports in the last stage
Union Minister of State  Science & Technology; Minister of State  Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that technologists and scientists are the true architects of New India envisaged by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Dr Jitendra Singh was addressing the scientists and staff members of Central Electronics Ltd  under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research  at Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh today.
Stating that CEL is the premier institution for research & development of Electronics in the country, the Minister recalled the achievement of the Enterprise in developing Solar Cell indigenously for the first time in India way back in 1977, when hardly anybody had heard of Solar Energy. The contribution made by CEL by providing varied electronics components and equipment to the Armed Forces and Indian Railways is indeed praise-worthy, the Minister added.
The Minister emphasised on the need to spread awareness about the applications of incredible work being done in this institute and also engage the stakeholders including industry, StartUps and concerned agencies in public as well as private sector.
During a brief presentation before the Minister, the CMD of CEL Chetan Prakash Jain informed that the innovative Broken Rail Detection System developed by CEL is undergoing field trials with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation  and the outcome of the same is satisfactory. Showing keen interest in the system, the Minister said that once fully operational, the above system can be replicated by the Indian Railways too.
Sh Jain informed the Minister that CEL has orders worth Rs.1057 Crore in hand and production of Automatic Weather Observation System to be used by airports is in the last stage of completion. Production of Artificial Intelligence  based security and surveillance systems for one of the gates and adjoining areas of Ramjanmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya is nearing completion, the Minister has been informed.
On his maiden visit to CEL after assuming charge as Union Minister of Science &Technology Dr.JitendraSingh, inaugurated the E-Office system of CEL, as part of Digital India. The Minister visited different production units and monitoring centres in CEL premises like Microwave Electronics Division, Laser Fence Monitoring Station, Weather Monitoring System and Solar Photovoltaic unit.
Established in 1974, Central Electronics Ltd.  is focused on the commercial exploitation of indigenous technologies developed by national laboratories and R&D institutions in the country.
Ministry of Communications
AMRITPEX Plus – Launch event of AMRITPEX 
National level Philatelic Exhibition – AMPRITPEX is going to be held from 11.02.2023 to 15.02.2023 at New Delhi. Department of Posts has organized various activities in run up to AMPRITPEX – PLUS to mark this exhibition grand success. In this connection, it has been decided to open 7.5 Lakh Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts for eligible Girl child on 09.02.2023 and 10.02.2023 in PAN India.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in connection with “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign on 22.01.2015. Special arrangement is being made for opening of SSA in all Post Offices during this campaign. Special camps and melas will be arranged at every corner of the state. Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme is designed to provide financial support and help the girls in realising their goals and fulfilling their dreams. This scheme has attractive interest rate and provision for tax saving under 80C of Income Tax.
We appeal to all parents to secure the future of their daughters and give them the gift of a Sukanya Samriddhi Account.
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Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Production and Sales/ consumption of Fertilisers comfortable
Production and movement of fertilizers comfortable across the country. 2019-20 record high urea production of 244.55 LMT as compared to 240 LMT during 2018-19. While sales / consumption of Urea have reached 336.97 LMT as compared to 320.20 LMT of the previous year i.e. 2018-19.
Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri DV Sadananda Gowda has said despite the spread Covid 19 pandemic, production and movement of fertilizers remain comfortable across the country. There will be no scarcity of fertilizers this year also. He added that during April to June 2020, total fertilizers production touched 101.15 LMT which is 2.79% higher than the corresponding period of last year. Urea production during the same period touch 60.38 LMT which is 8.40% higher than the corresponding period of last year.
Sales / consumption of different fertilizers substantially increased during 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19.
Urea increase by 5.29%
DAP increase by 15.67%
MOP increase by 3.45%
NPKS increase by 9.95%
A comparative statement showing DBT sales during 2018-19 and 2019-20 is shown the graph.
Sales / consumption of different fertilizers has substantially increased during Kharif 2020 as compared to Kharif 2019.
Urea increase by 63.07%
DAP increase by 108.72%
MOP increase by 62.78%
NPKS increase by 124.71%
A comparative statement showing DBT sales for Kharif 2020  vis-a-vis Kharif 2019  is shown in the graph.
Sales / consumption of different fertilizers has substantially increased during Rabi 2019-20 as compared to Rabi 2018-19.
Urea increase by 10.64%
DAP increase by 31.65%
MOP increase by 25.41%
NPKS increase by 28.81%
A comparative statement showing DBT sales for Rabi 2019-20 vis-à-vis Rabi 2018-19 is given in the graph.